the Mentor
NEWS
March 16, 2012 Manhattan High volume 99 issue 19
page 2: Kony, Miller Vs. Alabama page 3: Spring fashion, Fashion week Spring play, crossword page 4: Spring break playlist, Spring break trips, Sarah Mortenson, Cullinary Compition Spring Sports Preview: Baseball, Girls swim & dive, Softball, Boys golf, Boys Tennis, Girls soccer, Track & Field
MR. MHS
“I’m really nervous. I think it’s more of a stagefright kind of thing and being in front of everyone,” Parker said. Parker did feel confident in his events and was practicing weekly. With several of his friends dancing with him to “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice and comedy sketches he felt like he would standout to the judges. Students like Lierz were excited to do Mr. MHS because they wanted to feel more involved with the school. “I haven’t really done much except for football, which I love, but I wanted to really do more with the school,” Lierz said. Lierz had a hard time when it came to procrastinating. “On Tuesday night I really started to practice my dance. I practiced it for an hour. It really Risberg, Josh Parker, Jason Lierz, ing personality,” St. Amand said. gave me an appreciation for Lindsey Goff St. Amand included several of dancers,” Lierz said. Brian Burton and Ethan Pauls. editor in chief Lierz felt that the boys all The theme was Broadcast his friends in his talent portion. had a great chance at winning Yourself and the boys were ready “I have Will Honey, Brady For the past 27 years Mr. but Ben Bolton and Josh Parker Hendricks and Ben Stegeman to do just that. MHS has pushed the boundtruly stuck out to him. Each contestant prepared in on the treadmills with me. It aries of administration and “I think they had a really was actually Will Honey’s idea their own way. St. Amand had participants. good chance of winning because to find a way to gather eight and since he didn’t participate The event takes quite a bit their skits didn’t include dancin Mr. MHS competitively I of preparation and creativity for treadmills for his version of the ing when a lot of the others popular OK GO, “Here it Goes thought I would use it, and I the boys and gets them to step Again”, music video. love the video too. We practiced did. Their performances stuck out of their comfort zones. All out more especially because everyday for about a week and “I had to go through five of the boys that participated are we danced in our opening act,” a half and finally got it down seniors this year. The list includ- different people to borrow six Lierz said. treadmills from the school. I Wednesday,” St. Amand said. ed Cole Anneberg, Ben BolPauls was not nervous at all. Other contestants were more think I won Mr. McCarty over ton, Daniel St. Amand, Vamsi He’s used to performing. Bhadriraju, Konner Cool, Jimmy with my good looks and charm- worried about their nerves.
News Students ‘broadcast’ their talents Briefs d esseniam Im dui tionse tiniat ad tie zzriure ros eugiamet, o ex modip est magnit, modio od tis susci tie enis do od dol qui erosto re rcilit, Im and iscipsu ms zzriam eni ess d dui tionse
ANIME The highlight of the last Anime club meeting was a guest speaker with an expertise on Cosplay, an anime practice of dressing up as anime characters. Though they normally meet weekly to discuss/watch anime and socialize, there will be no meetings for the next two weeks due to Spring Break. Within the next month, Anime Club will be holding a bake sale during both lunches, the funds from which will be used for things such as more guest speakers.
WHY DID YOU TRY OUT FOR MR. MHS? “To win it.” -- Josh Parker
“ I really wanted to take my shirt off.” -- Cole Anneberg
“I perform onstage all the time and I’m used to making myself look like an idiot. I’m really doing Mr. MHS for the fun of it,” Pauls said. Pauls ordered some of his gear off of EBAY and rummaged through his closet as well. “I dressed up as a Scotsman for evening wear, Jack from the
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I haven’t really done much except for football, which I love, but I wanted to really do more with the school. --Lierz
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‘Titanic’ for swim wear, and sung two Johnny Cash songs while accompanied by Phillip Dix on trombone,” Pauls said. Regardless of how they had prepared all of the boys were excited to show off their talent. “I went out their to have fun. I just let it all go and don’t get nervous. I’m not afraid to fall on my face because even if I did that’d be hilarious,” St. Amand said.
graphic by Cole Anneberg
“To become a vamzdog millionaire.” -- Vamsi Bhadriraju
“For the experience.” -Brian Burton
“Because Ben did it and I wanted to hang out with him.” -- Jimmy Risberg
THESPIANS All of March, Thespians are celebrating Theater for Life Month with numerous performances. The Mr. MHS Pageant was last night in Rezac Auditorium. Thespian technicians assisted with the lighting, sound, sets, and management. Thespians will appear in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade this Saturday at 12:30. Salute to Broadway, an annual Thespian fundraiser featuring songs, monologues, scenes, dances, and instrumental acts focusing on Broadway selections, will be held March 30 and 31 at 7 p.m. both nights in Rezac Auditorium.
SPRING FLING The Spring Fling is back in action again this year on Friday, April 6. This event is completely free and open to all students that currently attend Manhattan High School. The Spring Fling will not only feature a dance, but will also include pizza, a carnival and a film festival. It is sponsored by Students Against Destructive Decisions and Teens Leading Teens and in the past has been well attended. Spring Fling is a safe Friday night activity that will include free fun and food for all Manhattan High students.
“Because I love the public humility mostly.” -- Daniel St. Amand
“In order to win the eternal glory and all the ladies.” -- Ethan Pauls
“I didn’t mean to.” -- Ben Bolton
“I wanted to bring honor to my family and homeland.” -- Jason Lierz
“To get all of the eternal glory.” -- Konner Cool
Board discusses structure of PLT Cole Anneberg news editor
An annual review of the Manhattan High School’s Professional Learning Time was discussed at the Board of Educations retreat on Feb. 22. PLT was generally discussed at the retreat with talks about the structure and frequency of the program. PLT began 12 years ago after a negotiated agreement was passed between faculty and the board which contracted teachers of MHS to teach five out of seven hours a day, allowing small groups of faculty to meet.
PLT was structured to meet goals of school improvements in staff and students, and new to this year, personal professional development. PLT is a unique benefit to the faculty at MHS because teachers are given time for PLT during the school day rather than after school. “Most districts don’t have this opportunity like we do here at MHS,” PLT Coordinator Dawn Lindsley said. “We’ve got something that other districts envy.” With each teacher only teaching five hours, additional teachers are needed to offer enough courses. The cost for
the PLT program is approximated at $800,000 for the 15 additional teachers employed, according to the Board of Education. Concerns have been raised on the cost of program as well as the number of times PLT meets, and the Board has recently discussed switching the schedule to having teachers teach six out of seven hours a day. “Each year the Board and the teachers association review and discuss the negotiated agreement for our faculty at Manhattan High,” USD 383 Superintendent Bob Shannon said. “The main question I’ve heard from the board is whether the frequency
what $800,000 buys An opportunity for MHS faculty for the exchange of information about requirements in meeting local, state, and federal mandates.
of scheduling PLT on a daily basis is necessary or not.” Shannon went on to state, “In any profession, it’s important for the individual to improve their skills in their work, and with education it’s as important as it ever is. Manhattan High has an advantage over other high schools because they have a time to collaborate and improve their skills.” English teacher Mary Kris Roberson agreed with Shannon’s statement. “I think PLT is beneficial to the faculty at MHS because it allows time to collaborate
cross curricular, provides a small setting for dealing with building wide issues and provides stakeholders the place to have a voice,” Roberson said. Losing PLT would mean faculty would no longer have the opportunity to meet daily during school, and potentially 15 teachers would lose their jobs as well. “If we were to lose PLT then everybody here would realize that we are missing out on this great opportunity for our staff that allows out staff to collaborate and improve,” Lindsley said. The next Board of Education meeting is on April 4.
graphic by Cole Anneberg
15 additional teachers to cover MHS’s courses offered, due to faculty teaching five out of seven hours in a school day.
A place for faculty collaboration which allows teachers to work together more effectively for the betterment of all students.